Folding chair



Dec. 17, 1929. w. E. KIDDER FOLDING CHAIR Filed Sept. 26, 1923 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES,

WILLIAM E. KIDDER,

PATENT OFFICE OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KALAMAZOO SLED COMPANY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN FOLDING CHAIR Application filed September 26, 1928. Serial No. 308,355.

The main obj ectsof this invention are:

First, to provide a foldingchair of the socalled yacht chair type which may be made of comparatively light material and is at the same time very strong and rigid when erected.

Second, to provide in a folding chair an improved means for supporting the canvas seat.

Third, to provide in a folding chair an improved means for supporting the canvas back without necessity of using tacks, snap-fasteners or the like as is common practice.

Objects pertaining to details and econo mies of my improvements will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A folding chair embodying the features of my improvements is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of my improved chair in erected position. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, provide pairs of crossed pivotally connected legs 1, 1 and 2, 2 mounted on a common rung-like pivot 3. The front and rear legs are connected by cross pieces 4. The side rails 5 are provided with downwardly projecting arm-like hinge members 6 which are secured on the under sides of the rails. The legs are provided arm-like hinge members 7 projecting laterally from the upper ends of the legs, the hinge members being secured by pivots 8 The pivot point is thus substantially spaced from both the legs and side rails.

The legs have shouldered recesses 9 at their upper ends constituting rests for the rails when the chair is erected as is clearly shown in the drawings. The rails have longitudinal grooves 10 in their inner faces receiving the splined edges of the canvas seats 11. These edges are folded over the splines 12 to provide groove engaging enlargements. V

The clamping strips 13 have longitudinal grooves 14 on their inner sides to receive the edges of the seats. These clamping strips are secured by screws 15 and become in effect part of the rails, being in abutting relation to the shoulders on the legs.

When the chair is erected the strain of the load on the seat is sustained directly by the legs so there is little strain on the fastenings.

I provide a brace consisting of a pair of links16, each link being pivoted at 17 to one of the legs and the links being pivoted to each other'at 18. As braces of this type are well known in the art, theyare not detailed herein.

The back uprights 19 are carried by the side rails and the arms 20 are supported by these uprights and the spindles 21. The back 22 is also formed of fabric and is provided with loops or straps 23 engaging reduced portions 24: and 25 on the uprights. These reduced portions are spaced and the uprights are tapered inboth directions to these reduced portions so that tension on the back acts to cause the straps to position in the reduced portions, thereby keeping the back extended and avoiding the necessity of tacks, snap-fasteners or other securing means as is the usual practice.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4: and 5 the side rails have longitudinal slots 26 therein through which the looped ends 27 of the seat 28 are inserted, the loops being then engaged by means of the retaining rods or splines 29. The slots 26 have groove-like enlargements 30 at the bottoms thereof to receive the splines, thereby concealing the same.

The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is. however, the form I prefer as the side rails are not weakened by the attachment of the seat thereto, but are, as a matter of fact, reinforced. The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is very satisfactory as the rails are effectively supported by the legs and there is very little load upon the hinge connections. Y

My improved chair is comparatively economical in structure, is attractive in appearance and is very strong and rigid.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Batters Patent is: V g 1. In a collapsible chair, the combination of pairs of crossed pivotallyconnected legs having outwardly facing shoulder-liners cesses at their upper ends, side rails having longitudinal grooves 1n their lnner sides'a flexible seat provided with-splines-in-theside edges thereof disposed in said grooves in said side rails, clamping strips secured on the innersides of said siderails toclamp the ends of the seat and to clamp saidsplines in said grooves, arm-like hinge member's secured on the-under sides of saidside-rails to project downwardly therefrom, outwardly projecting arm-like hinge members on said legs pivoted to said; hinge members onsaid side :rails so that-when the chairis erected the side rails and said seat clamping stripa swing into the said shouldered recesses in the upper ends of said legsandmre-supPorted thereby, and bracesforsaid legs.-

2. In acollapsible chair, the combination ofpairs of crossed pivotally connected legs having outwardly facing shoulder-like recesses at theirupper ends, side mile, a flexible seat, clamping strips secured on the inner sides of said side rails to clamp the ends of 'the sea-t, arm-"like hinge members secured on the under sides of said side rails to project downwardly therefrom, outwardly projecting arm-likehinge members on saidlegs pivoted to said'hinge memberson said side rails so that when the chair is erected the side rails and said seatclamping strips swing into the said shouldered recesses in the upperends of said legs and are-supported thereby, and braces for said legs-r 3-.-In a collapsible chair the-combination of pairs of crossed pivotally connected legs having outwardly facing shoulder-like re-- 7 cesses attheir upper ends, side rails, a flexible sea-tsecured to said side rails, arm=like" hinge members secured on the under sidesofsaid side rails to project downwardly therefrom, and outwardly projecting arm likehin-g'e members on said legs pivoted to said-hinge members-on said side rails so that when the chair is erected the side rails swing into the said shouldered recessin the '1ipperends of said legs and ere supp'ort'e'dtherebyi 4:. Ina-collapsible chair, the a combination with pairs of crossed pivot-ally connected legs having ou'twardly'faeing recessesin their up? per ends, side rails having longitudinal grooves in their inner sides, a flexible seat provided with splines in the side edges thereof disposed in said grooves in said side rails, clamping strips secured on the inner sides of said side rails to clamp said splines in said grooves, and hinge members connecting said rails to said legs disposed so that when the chair is erected the bottoms and inner sides of the clamping strips are in supporting engagement withthe legs. i

5; Ina collapsible chair, the combination with pairs of crossed pivotally connected legs having outwardly facing recesses in their upper ends, side rails, afiezzible" seat, clamping strips secured on the inner sides of said side rails to .clamp said seat, and hinge members connecting said rails to said legs disposed so that when the chair iserected the bottoms and inner sides of the clamping strips are in supporting engagement with the legs f i6. -In a collapsible chair,-the combination of pairs ofcrossed pivotally connected legs having outwardly facing shoulder-like recesses at their upper G IIdSy side rails pro,- vided with downwardly projecting arm-like hinge-members,ioutwardly projecting arm- 7 like hinge members on-the upper ends of said legs pivoted to said hinge members of said side rails so that when the chair iserected the side rails-rest in sa'idrecesses, a flexibleseat bottom securedat-its ends to said side rails by means engaged and supported by the legs whenthe chair in erected position, and colla psible'braces for said legs, a

7. lna collapsible chairfthe combination of pairs of crossed pivotallyconnectedlegs having outwardly facing shoulder likefrecesses at-their upper ends, side rails provided with downwardly proj ectingarm-like hinge members, outwardly projecting arm-like hinge members on the upper endsof said legs pivotedte said hinge members ofsaid side rails so that Whentheclisiir is erectedthe side rails rest in saidreeesses, a'flexible seat bot-tom secured atits ends tosaid side rails, and collapsiblebraces for said legs.-

8. In a collapsible chair, the combination of pairs of crossed pivotally connected legs-,- side rails pivotally connected to the upperends of said legsto rest-thereon when the chair is erected, a seait carried by said side rails ,-back uprights-mounted onrsaid-side rails, said up:- rights being provided with spaced reduced portions and being-'tapered-to such reduced chair is erected, a seat carried by said side rails, back uprights mounted on said side rails, said uprights being provided With spaced reduced portions, and a back of fieX- ible material having spaced loops at its ends engaging the said reduced portions of said uprights. V

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM E. KIDDER. 

